Septic Maintenance Reminders

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Septic systems have unique needs for maintenance to avoid expensive repairs and service costs. Although you may be aware of many of these rules, it is always good to remind yourself and everyone in your home of these tips to avoid septic problems. Here are a few reminders that can keep your septic system working great and septic expenses low.

  • Ditch the garbage disposal. Although garbage disposals are handy, they also are hard on your septic system. On average, homes with a garbage disposal and a septic system must pump their tank twice as often as one without a garbage disposal. Consider composting as an alternative.
  • Items to keep out of your drains. Remember, everything that goes down your drain goes into your septic tank. Food items to keep out of your drains: coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, seeds, oil and grease. Non-food items to never flush or put down the drain: feminine hygiene products, disposable wipes, cotton swabs/balls, medications, anti-bacterial cleansers, bath oils, chemicals and any other inorganic materials.
  • Schedule annual inspections. Stop big problems before they begin with annual septic inspections from your local septic service company. Your local professionals can spot minor issues before they become large, expensive problems.
  • Protect your drain field. Remember to keep your drain field protected from vehicles or other heavy machinery driving over the area. The small pipes located under the soil can be crushed, causing a septic backup and possibly septic failure.

With regular maintenance and avoiding some common irritants to your system, your septic can last for decades. Stay on a regular service and maintenance program with your local septic service company to avoid major septic repairs and failure.

Posted on behalf of:
A-Flo Free Septic
Lawrenceville, GA
(770) 927-7926

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Planting New Trees? Consider Your Sewer Lines

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Trees can add beauty, shade and dimension to your yard, but they can also cause havoc on your sewer and water lines. Under your lawn, a fight is going on between tree roots searching for water and pipes carrying water to and from your home. Before adding new trees to your yard, consider the proximity to sewer and water lines before planting. Here are a few tips to avoid tree root invasion into your sewer pipes.

  • Know where your underground pipes are located. Before you start planting, find out where your sewer and water pipes run. You will want to keep your new trees at least twenty feet or more away from those pipes.
  • Small trees get big. Yes, your new trees are small now, but how big will they be ten or more years from now? A general approximation is that roots will spread out from the tree the same distance as the height, even further for each ten years.
  • Talk to your local sewer company. Not sure where your sewer lines are or where you can plant? Call your local sewer company for an inspection. They can locate the exact areas where your sewer pipes are located and give you options to protect your pipes from damage.

So what should you do if tree roots do find their way into your sewer lines? One option is hydro-jetting. Your local sewer service company that offers hydro-jetting can use this high-powered water cleaning to remove tree roots that have penetrated your sewer lines. It also will remove any other debris or waste that could cause an expensive clog or sewer backup before it happens.

With a little planning, you can have beautiful new trees and protect your sewer lines from damage. Happy planting!

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

 

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Beware of Hidden Costs of Septic Tank Pumping

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you own a home or business with a septic tank, you already know that pumping your tank will be required. Solid waste that cannot be broken down in the tank will need to be removed periodically. While this is an expense, it should be a reasonable fee that can be added into your budget. However, there are some companies that may advertising low cost septic tank pumping, then hit you with hidden fees and costs that may be more than you expected. Here are some tips to avoid being overcharged for this service.

  • Choose a reputable septic company. Unfortunately, almost every home service industry has a few companies that make money from dishonest pricing scams. Septic service is no exception. You can avoid these issues by choosing a local, reputable company that has been in business for many years and has excellent customer reviews.
  • Ask for a written estimate (and read the fine print). Get a written quote or estimate for your septic service before the work begins and read any disclaimers. While any repairs may be extra, make sure that all expenses for pumping is included in the estimate.
  • Too good to be true. See a super low advertised price for septic pumping? Make sure that is a flat fee with no additional costs, fees or “taxes” that are not included. As with most services, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Avoid unexpected expenses when it comes time to pump your septic tank. Hire a reputable, local septic company that offers flat-fee septic pumping with no hidden costs to keep the expense of maintaining your septic system within your budget.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Remodeling Your Basement? Add a Bathroom for Convenience and Value

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Many homes have basements that are not considered part of the living space. Unfinished basements are fine for storage or a laundry room, but are a waste of space that could be part of your home. Remodeling your basement can add square footage to your home, increasing its value while giving your family more area to enjoy. If you are remodeling your basement to add living space, consider adding a downstairs bathroom for convenience and as a valuable addition to your home.

Basement Bathroom Issues

The reason that many homes with basements do not have a bathroom in this area is due to plumbing issues. While using a washer in the basement only requires expelling gray water, a bathroom requires elimination of solid waste. Since plumbing in the main floors of the house use gravity to move solid waste, you need another way to pump sewage from your basement as it will need to travel up to your sewer lines.

An ejector pump is the solution to adding a basement bathroom. This device pumps sewage up to your sewer lines, giving you the option of adding a bathroom or even kitchen plumbing to your basement. A local septic or sewer company can install an ejector pump that will give you the option of adding a bathroom to your remodeled basement, increasing the value of your home with the convenience of a larger living area.

Don’t let the square footage in your basement go to waste. Talk to your local sewer company about the option of adding an ejector pump to make the most of all your home’s living space.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Choosing the Right Septic Tank Size for Your Home

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Septic System
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Are you adding a new septic tank or replacing an old tank for your home? Getting the right size tank for your needs is crucial for low septic maintenance. A tank that is too small for your family and home size will need more frequent pumping and may become overloaded. Before choosing the size of your septic tank, keep these tips in mind.

  • How many bedrooms you have. Specifications for septic systems are usually based on how many bedrooms a home contains. For example, many jurisdictions will require a tank of at least 1,000 gallons, with larger required for homes with three or more bedrooms.
  • People living in the home. It is not just the size of the home that matters; it is also the size of the family. If you have a growing family, you need to plan ahead for the size of family you may have in the future, not the size it is now.
  • Large events. Do you plan to host large events at your home? If you do, you will want to consider a larger septic tank than your home normally would normally need. A holiday gathering over a weekend with twenty people at your home could easily overload a smaller septic system.
  • Replacing an existing tank. If you are replacing an existing tank, don’t automatically choose the same size. It may be time to upgrade to a larger tank for your increased septic needs.

In general, it is usually better to go bigger than smaller when it comes to choosing your septic tank. Consult with your local septic company to determine the best size tank to meet your family’s needs now and in the future.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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Buying a Home with a Septic System

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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Are you in the market to buy a new home? If you have been considering living in a rural area, you may come across homes that rely on a septic system versus city sewer. For some new homeowners, a septic system may seem like a deal breaker. If you have never owned a home with a septic system, you may be concerned about the maintenance and upkeep needed. However, you shouldn’t let a septic system stand in the way of owning your dream home. Here are some facts that can help you decide if a home with a septic system could be right for you and your family.

  • It is estimated that 25% of the population relies on a septic system for their home. You would be one of millions of other homeowners use and maintain a septic system.
  • Septic tanks can last up to 50 years when maintained. The other equipment can also last for decades when regularly serviced.
  • There are benefits to owning a home with a septic system, especially when it comes to monthly utility costs. Although you must maintain your system, you will not need to pay for sewer service.
  • Septic service options. You can hire a local septic service company to maintain your system for you. With annual service and periodic inspections, your system can be easily maintained without you needing to do any of the work yourself.

Septic systems do require you to meet certain safety standards set by the EPA, state and local authorities. However, if you hire a local septic company to maintain your system, you won’t notice a large difference between using a septic system versus a city sewer, except you won’t receive a monthly utility bill. Don’t miss out on buying your dream home just because it has a septic system; you may be surprised how easy owning a septic system can be when you have the right septic service company to help you with maintenance.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

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4 Things You Need to Know About Your Drain Field

June 22nd, 2016 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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If your septic system is working like it should, your drain field may just look like another part of your lawn. In fact, you may not even know for sure exactly where your drain field is if everything is working like clockwork. However, your drain field is one of most important components of your septic system so you should be aware of some key points. Here are four things you should know about your drain field.

  1. The exact location. You probably have a general idea where your drain field is, but do you know exactly where it begins and where it ends? This is important information to know as you want to avoid having any heavy equipment on your drain field.
  2. Greener is not better. If you start to notice that one part of your lawn is greener than the rest and that part is over your drain field, you might have a problem. This may mean your septic tank is not filtering the waste water correctly before it comes to the drain field, fertilizing the grass.
  3. Wetter is also not better. Pooling water or a foul odor near your drain field are bad signs and you need to call your septic professional right away.
  4. Small items can clog your drain field pipes. Most drain field pipes have small holes in them that release the waste water into the soil. Small items, especially medications in tablet form, can clog these holes and cause a backup. Never flush old medications down the drain or toilet.

Your drain field is often the first area to show signs of distress when you are having septic problems. Keep an eye on your drain field and make sure to have annual inspections by your local septic service company.

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

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Protecting Your Local Water Supply with BackFlow Prevention

June 22nd, 2016 Posted in Backflow Prevention
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Water quality issues have been making national headlines, making everyone more aware of the possibility of water contamination. One of the ways that local water supplies are protected is through the use of backflow preventers. These devices ensure that toxic water is not accidentally allowed to enter the main water supply, keeping your local water safe.

When a Backflow Preventer is Needed

When you use a local municipal water supply, your home or business is hooked up to the main water line. The force of the water pressure from the main line usually controls any water coming back from your property into the main system. However, there can be situations such as a broken water main or other circumstances that could lower the water pressure, allowing water from homes and businesses to flow back into the main water supply.

This can be dangerous when you have an irrigation system that is connected to the water system. Chemicals used in your lawn could seep into your irrigation system and if the water pressure waned, those chemicals could backflow into the main water supply. This is where a backflow preventer can stop this contamination.

Backflow preventers are used to curtail any water from your property from returning into the main water supply. Not all homes need these devices but it is prudent to have your home inspected and backflow tested by a local sewer company. If a backflow preventer is needed, one can be installed and maintained with annual testing to ensure that it meets local, state and federal standards. It is the best way to help protect your local water supply from backflow contamination.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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Be Green and Preserve Your Septic System

June 22nd, 2016 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Everyone is aware of the push to make green decisions; from the products we buy to the items we throw away. Being green is about not hurting the environment we will live by reusing, recycling and reducing waste. This means using products that are safe for the environment and preserving natural resources like water. But did you know that when you think green, you are also preserving your septic system? Here are a few ways that being green is good for your septic system.

  • Natural products. One way to be green is to use natural products that are not made with harsh chemicals that are hard on the environment. This is also great for your septic system! Many natural products for personal hygiene and household cleaners are made from plants and other benign ingredients that are gentle on your septic system.
  • Using less water. Cutting down on water waste by using water-efficient fixtures and appliances cuts down the load on your septic system. Too much water can dilute your system and the bacteria needed to break down solids in your septic tank.
  • Composts. Creating a compost pile is a great way to make your own fertilizer and save your septic system. How? By consciously putting all food items into your compost pile, you are keeping them out of your drains. There is no need for a garbage disposal if you are composting and that is a good thing for your septic system!

Keep your septic healthy by being green around your home. By reducing waste, you can extend the life of your septic system, especially when combined with yearly maintenance from your local septic service company.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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Is My Home a Candidate for Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement?

June 22nd, 2016 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If you have been experiencing issues with your old sewer lines, you may be researching options for replacement. One of the more appealing options available is trenchless sewer line replacement, where your old pipes are left in the ground and new piping is inserted without needing to dig up your yard. However, not all homes are ideal candidates for this option and it may be better to opt for traditional sewer pipe installation. Here are some of the criteria that could make trenchless sewer line a poor solution for certain homes:

  • Poor grade. Trenchless sewer line replacements require a certain grade to make them functional. Installing these pipes in the wrong grade conditions could mean backup problems and future sewer line repair expenses.
  • Local regulations. Trenchless systems are usually installed by bursting the old pipes that are in the ground and inserting a new tube in their path. Some localities may not allow this method, especially if you have old pipes that may contain lead.
  • Tree root issues. If you want to change the path of your pipes to avoid future tree root invasions into your sewer lines, trenchless replacement may not be an option.
  • Soil conditions. Not all soil conditions are conducive to the type of sewer lines used in trenchless replacement.

It is important to know all your options when it comes to sewer line replacement. To determine whether trenchless or traditional replacement would be best for your home, call your local sewer service company for a thorough inspection and evaluation. Your local sewer professionals can recommend the best options for changing the sewer lines in your home that will best meet your needs.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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